Propulsion device

ABSTRACT

A manually powered and/or motorized fluid reaction propulsion device having fluid receiving chambers with fluid displacement mechanisms connected to the upper portions of the chambers for effecting a continuous intake and thrust-producing expulsion of sea water through openings in the rear ends of the chambers.

United States Patent Albert P. Si'redda 2106 Iris Place, Bethlehem, Pa.18018 779,465

Nov. 27, 1968 Jan. 19, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented PROPULSIONDEVICE 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 115/14 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,983,2445/1961 Young 115 11 Primary Examiner-Trygve, M. Blix ABSTRACT: Amanually powered and/or motorized fluid reaction propulsion devicehaving fluid receiving chambers with fluid displacement mechanismsconnected to the upper portions of the chambers for effecting acontinuous intake and thrust-producing expulsion of sea water throughopenings in the rear ends of the chambers.

. l PROPULSION DEVlCE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates topropulsion devices for watercraft and is especially concerned with apropulsion device generally of the fluid reaction type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion devicethat is simple in construction, This device can be powered and steeredby physically operating foot pedals that are connected to fluiddisplacement means. Auxiliary motorized drive mechanism is alsoprovided. 7

.Another object is to provide vent mechanisms for controlling fluid flowthrough the propulsion system. thereby controlling steering and thegeneral motion of the propelled watercraft.

Other more specificobjects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description of an'illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DISCLOSURE OF THE EMBODIMENT Referringto FIGS. 1. 2. and 3 of the drawings. the propulsion mechanism is shownmounted on a flat bottomed boat. however this system isusable on othertypes of watercraft. A pair of chambers 2 and 3 are secured to rearsection of boat 1. Bellows 4 and 5 are secured to the upper forward endsof the chambers. The rear portions of the chambers extend throughtransom I7 and have openings 14 and 15 that are generally.

disposed below the water line [6. Bellows 4 and 5 are shown as fluiddisplacement means, however other suitable displacement means may beemployed. Bellows 4 and 5 are disposed generally above water line 16, sothat the upper portions of the chambers will contain trapped air. Airvents II and 12 are disposed near upper portions of bellows. Suitablevalves may be employed for opening and closing the vents. Drive motor 10has cranks 8 and 9 disposed at opposite ends of the motor shafts. Thecranks are connected to the bellows 4 and 5. with pins 18 and 19. Cranksmay be disengaged and foot pedals 6 and 7, mounted to bellows, may beemployed for expanding and compressing bellows. Bellows can be expandedby the buoyant force of sea water. I

Refer particularly to FIG. 2. In operation. by depressing bellows 4.either physically by foot pedal 6. or by motorized crank 8, will forcetrapped air 20 in upper section of chamber outward from position toposition 31. as indicated by dotted line. The air in turn forcescontained sea water out of the chamber through opening '14, therebyproducing thrust. The return stroke of crank 8 expands bellows 4. Thisaction plus the buoyant force produced by the sea water displacestrapped air to its original position and refills chamber with sea waterto position 30. Expansion spring 33 assists the expansion of thebellows. One end of the spring is secured to bellows foot pedal 6 andthe other end to chamber 2. Vents I1 and 12 may be employed forsteering. For example'if vent I1 is covered by hand or closed by asuitable valve and vent 12 is open, power actuation of bellows 4 willforce air in and out of open vent and will not expel thrust-producingsea water from chamber 2. If vent 11 on chamber 3 is closed, poweractuation of bellows 5 will displace air rearwardly and force theexpulsion of thrustproducing sea water through opening IS. The fact thatchamber 3 is disposed on right side of boat 1, the thrust from chamber 3will encourage a left turn. Vents are not necessary if the boat isconstructed solely for manual operation. Steering may be accomplishedsimply by pumping one bellows faster than the other. The propulsionmechanism is shown mounted generally inside a watercraft. however it maybe mounted completely or partially exterior to a watercraft.

Conventional fluid deflector means may be employed to deflect expelledsea water forward to thereby propel the craft in reverse.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the present invention. The fluidreceiving chamber 34 is mounted generally below the water line 29 ofboat 21 and is filled with sea water. The rear portion of the chamberextends through the rear bottom section of the boat and has an opening23 communicating with the sea. Diaphragm 28 is secured to andcommunicates with chamber 34. Slide rod 25. supported by support 35. issecured to the diaphragm at one end. and the other end is secured to camfollower 26. which engages cam 27. Cam is so shaped that rotation ofcam, by motor 32. forces the rod and diaphragm rearward to expelthrust-producing sea water at a velocity three times higher than thereturn velocity on the intake stroke. The forward movement of rod anddiaphragm plus the buoyant force of sea water effects the refill ofchamber 34 without nullifying the forward movement of the boat.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations maybe made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating thepresent invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined inthe appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination. a boat hull, a propulsion device mounted in saidhull. said propulsion device comprising a pair of chambers disposedgenerally parallel to each other. and having happed fluid therein. eachchamber having a portion extending through said hull and having anopening communicating with the sea, mechanical displacement meansconnected to each chamber, a foot pedal with a means for actuating eachdisplacement means, each foot pedal being independently operable,whereby continuous physical operation of said foot pedals effects acontinuous intake and expulsion of thrustproducing sea water throughsaid openings, by moving said trapped fluid in and out of saiddisplacement means.

2. The combination according to claim 1. each chamber is provided withan extended portion for containing trapped air whereby continuousinternal displacement of said air by said displacement means. effects acontinuous intake and expulsion of thrust-producing sea water throughsaid opening.

3. The combination according to claim 2. each said extended portion isprovided with an air vent and means for opening and closing said vents.

4. The combination according to claim I. wherein the buoyant force ofseawater solely effects the filling of said chambers with sea water andthe expansion of said displacement means.

5. The combination according to claim I, wherein spring means assist theexpansion of said displacement means.

6. The combination according to claim I, wherein displacement means aregenerally composed of a flexible material whereby the displacement meansare capable of expansion as a result of the buoyant force produced bysea water.

7. The combination according to claim I, mechanical means for drivingsaiddisplacement means, drive means inelude means for impartingirregular actuation of said displacement means. whereby the intakevelocity of sea water in said chambers is slower than the expulsionvelocity.

1. In combination, a boat hull, a propulsion device mounted in saidhull, said propulsion device comprising a pair of chambers disposedgenerally parallel to each other, and having happed fluid therein, eachchamber having a portion extending through said hull and having anopening communicating with the sea, mechanical displacement meansconnected to each chamber, a foot pedal with a means for actuating eachdisplacement means, each foot pedal being independently operable,whereby continuous physical operation of said foot pedals effects acontinuous intake and expulsion of thrust-producing sea water throughsaid openings, by moving said trapped fluid in and out of saiddisplacement means.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, eachchamber is provided with an extended portion for containing trapped airwhereby continuous internal displacement of said air by saiddisplacement means, effects a continuous intake and expulsion ofthrust-producing sea water through said opening.
 3. The combinationaccording to claim 2, each said extended portion is provided with an airvent and means for opening and closing said vents.
 4. The combinationaccording to claim 1, wherein the buoyant force of sea water solelyeffects the filling of said chambers with sea water and the expansion ofsaid displacement means.
 5. The combination according to claim 1,wherein spring means assist the expansion of said displacement means. 6.The combination according to claim 1, wherein displacement means aregenerally composed of a flexible material whereby the displacement meansare capable of expansion as a result of the buoyant force produced bysea water.
 7. The combination according to claim 1, mechanical means fordriving said displacement means, drive means include means for impartingirregular actuation of said displacement means, whereby the intakevelocity of sea water in said chambers is slower than the expulsionvelocity.